Images: North Korea's Rocket and Missile Program

By SPACE.com Staff |
April 10, 2013 11:00pm ET

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Activity at North Korean Launch Center

Credit: DigitalGlobe via Getty Images

Sohae Launch Facility, North Korea, Nov. 26, 2012: This satellite image of the Sohae Launch Facility on Nov. 26, 2012 shows a marked increase in activity at North Korea's Sohae (West Sea) Satellite Launch Station. This activity is consistent with launch preparations as witnessed prior to the failed April 13, 2012 launch of the Unha 3 (i.e., Universe or Galaxy 3) space launch vehicle (SLV) carrying the Kwangmyongsong 3 (i.e., Bright Lodestar 3). Given the observed level of activity noted of a new tent, trucks, people and portable fuel/oxidizer tanks, should North Korea desire, it could possibly conduct its fifth satellite launch event during the next three weeks (e.g., by mid-December 2012).

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, as the country officials prepared for an attempted satellite launch in April 2012.

Satellite Image of North Korea Launch Pad

Credit: DigitalGlobe

This DigitalGlobe satellite image of the Tongchang-ri Launch Facility in North Korea was taken on April 9, 2012.

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket: Simulation

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

This still from an AGI video simulation shows North Korea's Unha-3 rocket just after its April 2012 launch.

North Korea Unha-3 Rocket Launch Crash

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

The breakup and destruction of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket is shown in this still from simulation of the botched April 13, 2012, assembled by Analytical Graphics, Inc.

North Korea Unha-3 Rocket Debris

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

The debris field left from break up and crash of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket shortly after its April 13, 2012 launch is depicted in red in this still from an Analytical Graphics, Inc., simulation. North Korea is located at upper right.

North Korea's Kawngmyongsong-1 Satellite

In this still from a CNN broadcast, a North Korean official briefs reporters on the Kawngmyongsong-1 ("Bright Star 1") satellite, which is set to launch atop the country's Unha-3 ("Galaxy-3") rocket to launch in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch: Video Animation

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

This still from an Analytical Graphics, Inc., video animation depicts North Korea's Unha-3 rocket and Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite in the last leg of a potential orbital launch in April 2012.

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows a close-up of the flag emblazoned on North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, which country officials say will launch a satellite into orbit in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch Site

Credit: Image (c) 2012 DigitalGlobe, Inc.

This DigitalGlobe 50-cm-resolution natural color image of the North Korean launch site at Tongchang-ri, in the northwest part of the country, was taken March 28, 2012. DigitalGlobe imagery confirms a higher level of activity within the overall facility and significant activity at the launch pad specifically, ahead of a satellite launch planned between April 12 and April 16.

North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Facility

Credit: Image (c) 2012 DigitalGlobe, Inc.

This is a DigitalGlobe 50 cm resolution panchromatic satellite image of the new reactor under construction in Yongbyon, North Korea, on Feb 3, 2012.

North Korea’s Missile Launch Site Under Watchful Eyes

Credit: IKONOS satellite image courtesy of GeoEye

GeoEye’s IKONOS commercial remote sensing spacecraft have maintained an eye on North Korea’s Musudan launch site, in the northeastern part of the country, as seen in this 2001 image.

North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket Launches in 2009

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Illustration of the April 2009 launch of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket, which North Korean officials say successfully blasted a satellite into orbit. Western observers say the launch failed.

North Korean's Unha-2 Rocket Streaks Skyward

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

This computer illustration shows North Korea's Unha-2 rocket streaking toward space shortly after its April 2009 launch. Western experts say the rocket's third stage failed, and the Unha-2's satellite payload never reached orbit.

North Korea's Failed 2009 Satellite Launch

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Illustration of North Korea's attempt to loft an experimental satellite to Earth orbit in 2009. North Korean officials claim success, but Western observers say the effort failed.

North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket in Space

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Computer-generated image of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket streaking through space. The Unha-2 launched in April 2009 carrying a satellite; Western officials say the rocket failed and the satellite fell into the ocean, while North Korean officials claim the satellite reached orbit.

Third Stage of North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket, with Satellite

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Computer illustration of the third stage of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket, along with its satellite payload. Unha-2 blasted off in April 2009; Western experts say the third stage failed and the satellite pitched into the Pacific Ocean.

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Activity at North Korean Launch Center

Credit: DigitalGlobe via Getty Images

Sohae Launch Facility, North Korea, Nov. 26, 2012: This satellite image of the Sohae Launch Facility on Nov. 26, 2012 shows a marked increase in activity at North Korea's Sohae (West Sea) Satellite Launch Station. This activity is consistent with launch preparations as witnessed prior to the failed April 13, 2012 launch of the Unha 3 (i.e., Universe or Galaxy 3) space launch vehicle (SLV) carrying the Kwangmyongsong 3 (i.e., Bright Lodestar 3). Given the observed level of activity noted of a new tent, trucks, people and portable fuel/oxidizer tanks, should North Korea desire, it could possibly conduct its fifth satellite launch event during the next three weeks (e.g., by mid-December 2012).

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, as the country officials prepared for an attempted satellite launch in April 2012.

Satellite Image of North Korea Launch Pad

Credit: DigitalGlobe

This DigitalGlobe satellite image of the Tongchang-ri Launch Facility in North Korea was taken on April 9, 2012.

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket: Simulation

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

This still from an AGI video simulation shows North Korea's Unha-3 rocket just after its April 2012 launch.

North Korea Unha-3 Rocket Launch Crash

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

The breakup and destruction of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket is shown in this still from simulation of the botched April 13, 2012, assembled by Analytical Graphics, Inc.

North Korea Unha-3 Rocket Debris

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

The debris field left from break up and crash of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket shortly after its April 13, 2012 launch is depicted in red in this still from an Analytical Graphics, Inc., simulation. North Korea is located at upper right.

North Korea's Kawngmyongsong-1 Satellite

In this still from a CNN broadcast, a North Korean official briefs reporters on the Kawngmyongsong-1 ("Bright Star 1") satellite, which is set to launch atop the country's Unha-3 ("Galaxy-3") rocket to launch in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch: Video Animation

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

This still from an Analytical Graphics, Inc., video animation depicts North Korea's Unha-3 rocket and Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite in the last leg of a potential orbital launch in April 2012.

North Korea's Unha-3 Rocket

This still from a CNN broadcast shows a close-up of the flag emblazoned on North Korea's Unha-3 rocket, which country officials say will launch a satellite into orbit in April 2012.

North Korea Rocket Launch Site

Credit: Image (c) 2012 DigitalGlobe, Inc.

This DigitalGlobe 50-cm-resolution natural color image of the North Korean launch site at Tongchang-ri, in the northwest part of the country, was taken March 28, 2012. DigitalGlobe imagery confirms a higher level of activity within the overall facility and significant activity at the launch pad specifically, ahead of a satellite launch planned between April 12 and April 16.

North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Facility

Credit: Image (c) 2012 DigitalGlobe, Inc.

This is a DigitalGlobe 50 cm resolution panchromatic satellite image of the new reactor under construction in Yongbyon, North Korea, on Feb 3, 2012.

North Korea’s Missile Launch Site Under Watchful Eyes

Credit: IKONOS satellite image courtesy of GeoEye

GeoEye’s IKONOS commercial remote sensing spacecraft have maintained an eye on North Korea’s Musudan launch site, in the northeastern part of the country, as seen in this 2001 image.

North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket Launches in 2009

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Illustration of the April 2009 launch of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket, which North Korean officials say successfully blasted a satellite into orbit. Western observers say the launch failed.

North Korean's Unha-2 Rocket Streaks Skyward

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

This computer illustration shows North Korea's Unha-2 rocket streaking toward space shortly after its April 2009 launch. Western experts say the rocket's third stage failed, and the Unha-2's satellite payload never reached orbit.

North Korea's Failed 2009 Satellite Launch

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Illustration of North Korea's attempt to loft an experimental satellite to Earth orbit in 2009. North Korean officials claim success, but Western observers say the effort failed.

North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket in Space

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Computer-generated image of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket streaking through space. The Unha-2 launched in April 2009 carrying a satellite; Western officials say the rocket failed and the satellite fell into the ocean, while North Korean officials claim the satellite reached orbit.

Third Stage of North Korea's Unha-2 Rocket, with Satellite

Credit: Analytical Graphics, Inc. (www.agi.com)

Computer illustration of the third stage of North Korea's Unha-2 rocket, along with its satellite payload. Unha-2 blasted off in April 2009; Western experts say the third stage failed and the satellite pitched into the Pacific Ocean.